Two of Manchester United’s midfield targets have been revealed ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
Throughout the summer, Manchester United were linked with a plethora of different midfielders, with it being widely reported that they were interested in improving their depth.
Despite these consistent rumours, Ruben Amorim’s side finished the transfer window without making any midfield additions, which has since left them slightly thin in the middle of the park.
A key talking point in United’s first seven Premier League games has been their midfield department, mainly due to Amorim’s system seemingly not platforming key United stars to succeed.
With Bruno Fernandes being shoehorned into a deeper role, and Kobbie Mainoo settling for substitute cameos, the Reds have now highlighted a couple of potential transfer targets to get rid of their conundrum.
United’s two new targets
According to a report from Ben Jacobs, via X, United are not expected to panic buy in the January transfer window, but there are certain players whom they could move for at the right price.
The transfer insider said, “I expect Manchester United not to panic buy, but there will be names that, out of opportunity, out of a lack of gametime, out of unhappiness or just at the right price, could be available in January.
“So Jobe Bellingham, Conor Gallagher could be another. The challenge with Conor Gallagher, Manchester United’s interest is genuine, and Gallagher may want to go somewhere and return to England and really boost his chances of getting in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
“We know they [Man Utd] made an enquiry last summer, but the thing about Gallagher is not the player, it’s Atlético Madrid, and my understanding is Athleti at least in the latter part of the summer, show interest in doing a loan, even a loan with an option.
“So to get Gallagher, Athleti need to change their mind and give him something short-term, and if it were a loan, I expect Manchester United to be back in that conversation.”
Do these solve United’s issue?
The issue that doesn’t seem to be going away for United is the fact that two of their shining lights from last season are struggling to fit into Amorim’s system this season.
Fernandes is playing more as a number eight, as opposed to a 10, whilst Mainoo is left struggling for minutes altogether due to Amorim preferring the profiles of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
Not so much in the case of Bellingham, but for Gallagher, a Prem-proven box-to-box with an everlasting engine could be the type of player that complements Mainoo well. The Englishman could also help to give Fernandes rest when needed.
It remains unknown as to whether United’s midfield dilemma is a case of their personnel or the system they are being played in, but this will become clearer as we edge closer towards the January window.
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